Are you lot on Facebook Live?

If non, what are y'all waiting for? A clever step-past-step guide that both entertains and educates y'all? Well, have we got proficient news for yous.

Facebook Live is 1 of the all-time ways to connect with your audience and boost your brand'south visibility.

In this post, we'll teach you how to apply Facebook Live video to the all-time of your advantage. And then whether you're but getting started or looking for tips and tricks, read on!

Bonus: Download a gratuitous guide that teaches yous how to plough Facebook traffic into sales in four simple steps using Hootsuite.

How to go alive on Facebook

When you broadcast a Facebook Live video, it will appear on your page, group or event and may also prove up in the Feed or on Facebook Lookout.

When the broadcast is over, you can edit and share a recording of the Alive video on your folio.

Here'due south the pace-past-stride:

How to go live on Facebook from your phone

There are two ways to go Live on Facebook using the mobile app.

Using the Facebook app:

one. Go to the page, group, personal profile, or result that y'all would like to stream your video from.

2. Tap "What'due south on your mind?" or Create post.

3. Tap Live, located in the listing of options.

iv. Write a clarification — this is where you lot tin tag friends, collaborators, or your location. Or, utilize the widgets at the bottom of the screen to add together other elements, similar Polls or links. The hamburger button in the lesser right-paw corner will requite you an exhaustive listing of options. Here, you lot tin besides restrict admission or crosspost betwixt channels.

Facebook live video of black and white cat

5. Tap Showtime Alive Video to begin the live broadcast.

6. When you're washed, tap Finish to end the livestream.

Using the Creator Studio app:

  1. On the Habitation or Content Library tab, click the etch icon on the top correct corner.
  2. Select the option for Live postal service.
  3. Write a clarification. (This is where yous can tag friends, collaborators, or your location.)
  4. Tap Start Live Video to brainstorm the live broadcast.
  5. When you're done, tap Finish to end the livestream.

How to go alive on Facebook from your computer

You can create Live video content using your figurer'southward built-in webcam and microphone. You also have the option to connect higher-end product equipment if y'all'd like.

Take your livestream to the adjacent level with graphics, screen-sharing and more than. You lot tin can as well incorporate streaming software like Streamlabs OBS. (For more information about connecting streaming software, click here.)

Regardless of which tools you utilize to become Live from your computer, Facebook will start direct you lot to the Live Producer tool.

Using your built-in webcam:

1. At the top of your newsfeed, click on the Alive Video icon below the "What's on your mind?" status field.

live video icon below Facebook status field

2. You'll be taken to the Live Producer tool, where Facebook will inquire you whether to go Live at present or prepare an effect for afterward. You tin can cull where to mail service your stream on the left-hand side.

go live or create live video event on Facebook

So, Facebook may prompt you to use your microphone and photographic camera.

Facebook wants to use your microphone and camera

3. Finally, you lot'll choose your video source — select Webcam.

select webcam under video source

four. Await to the left side of the screen under Add Mail service Details. Here, you lot tin can write a description and add an optional championship for your live video. Y'all can too tag people or places or choose to raise money with the center-stamped Donate button.

5. When you're prepare, click the Get Live button on the bottom left of the screen.

Notice more than details about how to use Alive Producer here. Facebook too has advanced tips for planning a larger virtual prove or effect here, so y'all can fix for your bigger shows.

15 tips for using Facebook Live

Now that y'all've mastered the basic skills, it's fourth dimension to ramp it up. Apply these tips and best practices to catch your audience's attention.

Plan ahead

When planning your next Facebook Live video, yous should start with a purpose. Write down something y'all'd like to accomplish or the message you want to tell your followers before you go Live.

In one case you've got a clear goal, write down a few talking points to assistance you guide the conversation. Your Alive video will be smoother if you lot've got a destination in mind.

Be authentic

The unpolished, anything-could-happen nature of Live videos is part of their charm. Embrace this built-in intimacy and actuality.

Sharing an unfiltered, uncensored view into your life or business organisation helps generate viewer trust. Don't exist afraid to go real! As long every bit information technology's within Facebook's lawmaking of conduct, of course.

Team up with guests

Some of the most engaging Live content involves co-dissemination: 2 or more people chatting live.

In these separate-screen broadcasts, you can advertise to both your existing audience and your guests'. Merely make certain y'all ask them to promote the circulate on their aqueduct.

For bigger groups (upwards to 50 participants!), you can broadcast to Facebook alive from Messenger Rooms.

You could besides use select streaming software, like Zoom (see above), to co-broadcast.

Paco Ojeda uses Zoom to co-broadcast with Coffee & Headlines

Source: Paco Ojeda • Coffee & Headlines on Facebook

Build anticipation

There's nothing worse than an empty audience. So, avoid hearing crickets by edifice hype!

Start off with teaser posts! Here are a few easy ideas to get you started:

  • Be mysterious. Nada builds excitement similar non knowing what'southward coming.
  • Loop in your superfans or email subscribers with insider information.
  • Make it worthwhile by promising a giveaway or a prize at the cease of your episode.
  • Count it down.

Facebook also offers the option to subscribe for Live Notifications, ensuring your audience doesn't miss a moment.

Y'all may also choose to schedule your broadcast ane week in accelerate, which allows your followers to subscribe to reminders, so they don't miss out.

Learn more about settings for scheduling live video over on Facebook's Concern Help Center.

Examination your broadcast privately first

If you lot're similar u.s.a., you demand to double-check things before publishing them. You tin easily test the waters of your broadcast for some peace of mind beforehand.

Modify your privacy settings to "Only Me" to view your Alive video stream. You can cheque your sound, lighting, and angles earlier anyone sees y'all.

test broadcast privately by selecting Only Me on Facebook settings

Invest in quality

Webcams, ring lights, and microphones are much more toll-effective than they used to be. You can get decent-quality tools that won't break the bank but volition brand your Alive videos that much more enjoyable to spotter.

Nosotros've got a full separate mail service well-nigh social media video specs and how to apply them to your advantage.

Tag your collaborators

Everybody likes a tag! Live stream descriptions offer the ability to tag people, Pages or places. Utilize these to shout out your collaborators or identify your location or business.

Tags help the viewers understand what they're watching and allow the content to reach audiences outside your own.

Go on offering context

Your superfans might be kickoff-to-end viewers of your stream, but others will be popping in and out. So, make sure y'all're giving new viewers context.

Insert short recaps throughout your broadcast to speedily explain the who, what, where, or why. Stick to the bare minimum for understanding. For example, you can use your guests' names or occupations regularly.

Captions on your video explaining the context are a pretty neglect-safe fashion to proceed people in the know. You can also pin a comment that offers some context or prompts engagement.

Actively engage your viewers

Livestreams allow you to collaborate with your viewers in existent-fourth dimension.

Chat with your viewers as they log in and reply to comments and questions equally they flow through. You can pin comments to the peak of the chat equally you respond to them.

If y'all've got an agile community, a moderator might salve your stream. Ask a second person to keep an eye on the chat or filter for the best comments or questions to share, so yous tin practice what you lot practice best — host!

Offer interactive content

Facebook Alive viewers are oftentimes passive audiences, but the conversation doesn't have to be a one-mode street. Amp it up a notch past promoting interactive content similar cooking shows, art tutorials, or conditioning sessions.

Fifty-fifty if your area of expertise or brand lies outside of it, don't be afraid to experiment. Take a page out of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's book. She hosts Live political Q&A while she cooks.

Create your own highlight reel

Get creative! You can trim whatsoever unnecessary footage and create shorter clips to share on Facebook when the stream is over.

Create your own highlight reel in six easy steps.

  1. To trim a previously live video, go to Creator Studio then the Content Library.
  2. Click the Posts tab.
  3. Bank check the box next to the video yous want to edit.
  4. Select Edit Post.
  5. Select Trimming or Video Clipping and crop equally you like.
  6. Hit Save when done. You lot'll find the finished production under the Clips tab.

Produce regularly scheduled programming

If your audition knows you mail every Tuesday nighttime, they'll keep coming back — and the algorithm notices.

Consistency doesn't accept to be boring: proceed it fresh with new formats or types of content (encounter interactive higher up!). Keep track of what your audience responds to the virtually.

Host a paid online issue

Paid events allow creators to limit content distribution to ticket holders or registered users. Facebook created these events to give small business concern owners and event producers some other acquirement stream during the pandemic and has said that they won't collect "any fees for paid online events purchases until 2023."

You lot can larn more nigh Online Events here.

Add captions

Captions are the easiest way to increase your video reach. With them, y'all can reach your Deaf and difficult-of-hearing audiences and people whose language differs from yours. Plus, many hearing folks who speak your language will still watch your video with the sound off.

Inclusive content is simply good content. It increases your achieve, shows your audience you see them, and makes the cyberspace a better identify.

Get more tips for creating inclusive content on social media here.

Cross-promote your Live content

Spread the word! By advertising your Live stream on your other accounts, you tin can reach new folks thirsty for more of your content. If you lot've got other channels, it merely makes sense to post almost your Facebook Live feed on them.

If yous tin can convince others to cross-promote your live content, you'll see an even more diverse audition at your side by side showing.

Bonus: Download a gratis guide that teaches you how to turn Facebook traffic into sales in four elementary steps using Hootsuite.

Go the free guide right at present!

Facebook Live video ideas for business

Okay! You lot know how to create, promote, and publish Facebook live videos. Now, we'll go into the heart and soul of viral videos with these creative Facebook live content ideas.

Tap into trending topics

Are you 1 of the first people to know virtually major current events? Can you spot a viral challenge from a mile away? Well, now's your adventure to capitalize on your interests.

Take a cue from the National Guide Dogs Australia (cue hearts melting), who hosted a live puppy stream on National Puppy 24-hour interval. Call up Golden Retriever puppies, a massive brawl pit, and nonstop audience appointment.

Facebook Live Event with Guide Dogs Australia

Source: Guide Dogs Australia on Facebook

Q&As and interviews

The co-broadcast functionality of Facebook Live makes it the ideal format for grilling someone live on the air.

The all-time part: Take questions from your audience! Letting viewers weigh in can requite you countless content and makes your people experience seen.

Football star Mohamed Kallon, for example, did a live Q&A with the Sierra Leone news channel Makoni Times News.

Breaking news

Are you in the correct place, right time? Striking that Live button and start filming!

Meteorologist Chris Nelson, for example, Live streamed his tornado chasing near Glenmore City, Wisconsin. Though we definitely do non condone chasing tornadoes (Chris, you lot're a wild human being), his video got over 30k views and likely some traffic to his news folio every bit a issue.

Live events and performances

If you can't be there in person, watching a performance, concert, or contest unfold via Live is the adjacent best thing. Or, if you're not actually into crowds or bath line-ups, it could exist the best matter.

After all, information technology's skillful enough for Shawn Mendes and friends! Plus, you lot get an upward-close and personal view of the performers.

This goes for conferences, panels, lectures, and workshops, too. If a camera and microphone can capture it, get it up on Live for all to see.

Backside the scenes

People love getting an inside await at what goes on backside the scenes. Requite your fans and followers what they want with a Live tour, like the Gwrych Castle one below!

A behind the scenes look at the castle 🏴󠁧󠁒󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏰🏴󠁧󠁒󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Posted past Gwrych Castle on Sun, April x, 2022

Product demos, uses, or tutorials

Evidence off all the features and benefits, or hidden tips and tricks, of your products (or products you honey) over Alive.

Maybe, like Kristen Hampton, you've plant a production that makes you lot laugh, and you want to share it with your followers. Nosotros get it: If we found a rapping, pooping Easter craven toy, nosotros'd desire to show the globe too.

Product testing Ii things! A rapping Easter chicken that poops eggs, and the Egg Mazing egg decorator. Join usa for this special Easter PTT double header! 🐣

Posted past Kristen Hampton Good News on Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Product launches

Are y'all well-nigh to drop the hottest product of the twelvemonth?

It's the perfect content to build excitement effectually. Amp up your audience with teaser posts, then do a dramatic unveiling over Facebook Live!

Collaborate with an influencer

Take an influencer yous similar? Team up with i to requite your customs some variety and boost your video omnipresence. Take a page out of Who What Article of clothing'due south volume and utilise your platform to requite them a voice.

A Whole Dang Day with Leslie Grace

So what does a typical mean solar day wait like for a 3-time Latin Grammy and Latin Billboard nominee? Leslie Grace, who also stars in the upcoming moving-picture show, In The Heights, takes the states along to notice out. Check out her latest single "Conga" out now. #AWholeDangDay

Posted by Who What Wearable on Monday, February one, 2021

Alive Shopping

If you're on Facebook Shops (if not, here'southward how), y'all can make a product playlist in Commerce Managing director to showcase your items. If yous don't plan to accept a Facebook Shop, don't worry — you can withal evidence off your goods, simply without the production playlist.

It can be a pretty lucrative strategy — 47% of online shoppers said they would buy products directly from live videos.

In your product playlist, yous'll create a collection of products to feature during your Alive stream. Here, yous tin can tag and link products to your eCommerce store. Then boom! You lot're gear up.

Learn more about creating a Live Shopping experience here.

Facebook Live Shopping product showcase

Source: Facebook

Use your stream to speak out on your values

When you're selling something — your brand, your products, your services or even just your content — people want to know they're giving their money, time, and attention to someone with the same values.

Over half (56%) of global consumers accept said information technology'southward important to them that the "brands they buy from back up the aforementioned values they believe in."

Utilize your Live stream to talk nigh the things that matter to you. Don't be worried you're going to lose followers for speaking out, either. An audition that aligns with you will be more loyal than the full general masses.

Ben & Jerry's, for example, may be an ice foam visitor, merely these folks aren't agape to get spicy. They're unapologetically vocal on their social platforms and take gained a loyal post-obit.

Ben & Jerry's Trans Rights are Human Rights

Source: Ben & Jerry's Facebook

End with a CTA

Terminate up your Live stream with a potent call to action (CTA). An effective CTA tells your audience what their side by side footstep should be after finishing up.

Information technology could exist attending your side by side Alive stream, plugging a product, or asking viewers to like your Facebook page or content.

Discover tips for writing an constructive call to action here.

Other Facebook Live questions

How does the Facebook algorithm treat Facebook Live video?

The brusk reply: Facebook's algorithm loves Facebook Alive video.

According to Facebook'due south nigh contempo explanation of how its algorithm works, "the organisation determines which posts show upwards in your News Feed, and in what order, by predicting what y'all're most likely to be interested in or appoint with."

Video content — peculiarly Facebook Live streams — drives college engagement, interest, and interactions than other content. It'southward a pretty safe bet this is where you should focus.

Now, if you're really looking to upwardly your algorithm game, this resource for the algorithm on Facebook is your new all-time friend.

How long tin can Facebook Live videos be?

The Live stream time limit on your computer, streaming software, or from your mobile is 8 hours.

Unfortunately for all you Chatty Kathys out at that place, afterward 8 hours, your stream will automatically plow off.

How to connect Zoom to Facebook Alive

To use Facebook Live for Zoom meetings for all members of your organization, follow these four steps:

  1. Sign in to the Zoom spider web portal as an administrator. You'll need the privilege to edit account settings.
  2. Hit Account Management and then select Account Settings.
  3. Under the Coming together tab (located in the In Coming together (Advanced) department), enable Let livestreaming of meetings, check the Facebook pick, and click Save.
  4. If you're making this setting mandatory for all users in your account, click the lock icon.

If you're just trying to enable live streaming meetings that you host on Facebook, yous don't have to be an ambassador.

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
  2. Click Settings.
  3. On the Meeting tab under the In Meeting (Avant-garde) department, enable Allow livestreaming of meetings, check the Facebook option, and click Save.

Zoom says, "If the choice is grayed out, information technology has been locked at either the grouping or account level, and you will demand to contact your Zoom ambassador to make changes."

If you lot're looking to host webinars, groups, or need to troubleshoot, head to the Zoom website.

How to share screen on Facebook Live

In society to share your screen with viewers during a Live circulate, you lot need to go Alive using your camera.

  1. Go to Live Producer.
  2. Choose Use Camera.
  3. Go to the Setup carte du jour and choose Start Screen Share.
  4. Select the content you'd like to share.
  5. Click Share.
  6. Click Go Live.
  7. To end sharing your screen, click Stop Sharing Screen.

How to save Facebook Live videos

After your live broadcast, y'all'll be shown a screen that enables you to post information technology to your page. Here, yous tin tap the download button to salvage the video to your photographic camera roll.

Congratulations! You are officially a Facebook Live aficionado.

Want to get even further with your livestream mastery? Head on over to our Instagram Live how-to guide next.

Streamline your Facebook marketing strategy with Hootsuite. From one dashboard you can schedule posts and videos, engage your audition, create Facebook Ads, and more. Try it complimentary today.

Get Started